Casio fx-CG50 vs TI-84 Plus CE Review and Comparison

Math Class Calculator
22 Oct 202011:26

TLDRThis video compares the TI-84 Plus CE and Casio fx-CG50 graphing calculators, highlighting similarities and differences in hardware, software, and capabilities. The Casio excels in exact answer display and 3D graphing, while the TI-84 Plus CE is favored for its intuitive menu system. Both calculators are suitable for standard tests, but the Casio offers a faster calculation speed and a more detailed periodic table, presenting a strong, cost-effective alternative to the widely used TI-84 Plus CE.

Takeaways

  • 📏 The Casio fx-CG50 and TI-84 Plus CE have similar size and shape, with comparable button layouts.
  • 🔋 The TI-84 Plus CE is slimmer due to a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, while the Casio fx-CG50 uses four AAA batteries.
  • 🔱 Both calculators provide high-resolution color screens, with the Casio's being slightly taller and wider.
  • 🎹 The Casio features a faux carbon fiber pattern, while the TI-84 Plus CE has a plain matte plastic back and is available in various colors.
  • đŸš« Neither calculator has a computer algebra system, limiting operations involving letter variables and solving non-numeric equations.
  • 📐 The Casio excels in providing exact answers, such as simplified radical forms and fractions, unlike the TI-84 Plus CE.
  • 🛠 Both calculators offer a range of functions through their respective menus, with the TI-84 Plus CE having a more user-friendly menu system.
  • ⏱ The Casio fx-CG50 outperforms the TI-84 Plus CE in speed tests for both calculation and graphing tasks.
  • 📈 The Casio is faster in graphing functions and can handle 3D graphing, a feature absent in the TI-84 Plus CE.
  • 🛒 The TI-84 Plus CE is commonly required in high school math classes, but the Casio fx-CG50 is a capable and more affordable alternative.
  • 🔬 Both calculators have similar apps for spreadsheets, graphing conic sections, value tables, equation solving, programming, financial functions, unit conversion, and periodic tables.

Q & A

  • What are the main differences between the Casio fx-CG50 and the TI-84 Plus CE in terms of hardware?

    -The main hardware differences are the thickness, with the TI-84 Plus CE being slimmer due to its built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and the Casio fx-CG50 using four AAA batteries, making it slightly thicker. The Casio also has a fake carbon fiber pattern on the panel behind the buttons, while the TI-84 Plus has plain matte plastic.

  • Which calculator has a longer battery life with standard batteries?

    -The Casio fx-CG50, which uses four AAA batteries, is expected to have a longer battery life compared to a single charge of the rechargeable battery in the TI-84 Plus CE.

  • Can you use rechargeable batteries in the Casio fx-CG50?

    -Yes, you can use rechargeable AAA batteries in the Casio fx-CG50 and charge them using the calculator's charging cord without removing them from the calculator.

  • How do the color screens of the Casio fx-CG50 and TI-84 Plus CE compare?

    -Both calculators have relatively high-resolution color screens that are similarly sized. The Casio's screen is slightly taller and wider.

  • Do either of the calculators have a computer algebra system (CAS)?

    -No, neither the Casio fx-CG50 nor the TI-84 Plus CE has a computer algebra system, meaning they cannot perform operations involving letter variables or solve equations without plain numeric answers.

  • What is the advantage of the Casio fx-CG50 in general calculations?

    -The Casio fx-CG50 has the ability to give exact answers, such as simplified radical forms and fractions in simplest form, which the TI-84 Plus CE does not provide by default.

  • How do the menu systems of the Casio fx-CG50 and TI-84 Plus CE differ?

    -The Casio fx-CG50 uses a menu system that takes up less screen space and requires the use of contextual buttons to navigate, which can be confusing due to abbreviations. The TI-84 Plus CE uses a list-based menu system that takes up the entire screen, making it easier to understand and navigate.

  • Which calculator performs faster in internal calculations?

    -The Casio fx-CG50 is significantly faster in internal calculations compared to the TI-84 Plus CE, as demonstrated in the speed tests in the script.

  • How do the graphing speeds of the Casio fx-CG50 and TI-84 Plus CE compare?

    -The Casio fx-CG50 graphs functions more quickly than the TI-84 Plus CE, which can be slow and require waiting for the screen to redraw after zooming in or out.

  • What unique feature does the Casio fx-CG50 have that the TI-84 Plus CE does not?

    -The Casio fx-CG50 has a 3D graphing feature, which is not available on the TI-84 Plus CE.

  • Which calculator is more widely used in high school math classes?

    -The TI-84 Plus CE is more widely used and often required in high school math classes, although the Casio fx-CG50 is presented as a capable and cheaper alternative.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Hardware Comparison of TI-84 Plus CE and Casio FX CG50

This paragraph compares the hardware features of two calculators, the TI-84 Plus CE and the Casio FX CG50. Both calculators have a similar size and shape with comparable button layouts. The TI-84 Plus CE is slimmer due to its built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, while the Casio FX CG50 uses AAA batteries, making it bulkier. The TI-84 Plus CE's rechargeable battery offers convenience but may require recharging, whereas the Casio's AAA batteries can be replaced easily but need regular replacement. The Casio also allows for the use of rechargeable AAA batteries with a charging cord. Both calculators feature high-resolution color screens with the Casio's being slightly larger. The TI-84 Plus CE comes in various colors, including a gold version, and has a plain matte plastic back, whereas the Casio has a fake carbon fiber pattern.

05:01

📊 Software and Performance Review of Graphing Calculators

This section delves into the software and operating systems of the TI-84 Plus CE and the Casio FX CG50, focusing on their main home calculation screens and the user interface. Neither calculator has a computer algebra system, limiting their capabilities with letter variables and equations without numeric answers. However, the Casio excels in providing exact answers, such as simplified radical forms and fractions, which the TI-84 Plus CE does not offer. The paragraph also highlights the menu systems of both calculators, with the TI-84 Plus CE's full-screen list being preferred over the Casio's smaller, more abbreviated menu. Speed tests reveal that the Casio calculator is significantly faster in performing complex calculations and graphing, which can be crucial for users requiring quick results. Both calculators offer similar app functionalities, including spreadsheets, graphing conic sections, value tables, and equation solvers, with the TI-84 Plus CE's equation solver being more intuitive.

10:04

📈 Advanced Features and 3D Graphing Capabilities

The final paragraph discusses advanced features of the two calculators, emphasizing the programming interfaces, financial functions, unit conversion apps, and periodic tables. The TI-84 Plus CE provides more detailed information about elements in its periodic table compared to the Casio's basic information. A notable difference is the Casio FX CG50's ability to perform 3D graphing, a feature absent in the TI-84 Plus CE. The Casio allows users to graph up to three functions simultaneously and offers templates for entering functions or graphing generic 3D and parametric functions. The paragraph concludes by summarizing the comparison, stating that while the TI-84 Plus CE is more widely used in high school math classes, the Casio FX CG50 is a capable and cost-effective alternative that is not as well-known.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡TI-84 Plus CE

The TI-84 Plus CE is a graphing calculator produced by Texas Instruments. It is widely recognized for its use in educational settings, particularly in high schools and colleges for various math courses. In the video, it is compared with the Casio fx-CG50, highlighting its slimmer design due to a built-in rechargeable battery and its common usage in math classes, which often require or recommend its use.

💡Casio fx-CG50

The Casio fx-CG50 is a graphing calculator from Casio's line of educational tools. It is positioned as an alternative to the TI-84 Plus CE, with a thicker design due to the use of AAA batteries. The video emphasizes its ability to provide exact answers and its 3D graphing feature, which is not available on the TI-84 Plus CE.

💡Hardware

In the context of the video, 'hardware' refers to the physical aspects and design of the calculators, including size, shape, button layout, and power source. The comparison points out the thickness difference due to the type of battery used in each calculator, with the TI-84 Plus CE having a slimmer profile because of its rechargeable battery.

💡Rechargeable Battery

A rechargeable battery is a type of battery that can be charged and discharged multiple times. The TI-84 Plus CE features a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which contributes to its slim design but requires charging. The video mentions the benefits of having a rechargeable battery, such as not needing to purchase replacements frequently.

💡AAA Batteries

AAA batteries are a common type of disposable battery used in many electronic devices, including the Casio fx-CG50. The video script discusses the pros and cons of using AAA batteries, such as the need to replace them when they run out but the advantage of longer usage time compared to a single charge of a rechargeable battery.

💡Color Screen

Both calculators have color screens, which provide a visual display for calculations, graphs, and other functions. The video notes that the screens are of relatively high resolution and similar in size, with the Casio's screen being slightly taller and wider.

💡Computer Algebra System (CAS)

A Computer Algebra System is a type of software that allows for symbolic computation, including solving equations with variables. The video points out that neither calculator has a CAS, meaning they cannot perform operations involving letter variables or solve equations without numeric answers, which is a limitation for certain advanced mathematical tasks.

💡Exact Answers

The term 'exact answers' refers to the calculator's ability to provide results in their simplest form, such as simplified radicals or fractions, rather than just decimal approximations. The Casio fx-CG50 is highlighted for this feature, which is an advantage over the TI-84 Plus CE in terms of providing more precise mathematical results.

💡Graphing Speed

Graphing speed refers to how quickly a calculator can plot and display graphs of mathematical functions. The video includes speed tests that demonstrate the Casio fx-CG50's faster graphing capabilities compared to the TI-84 Plus CE, which is an important factor for users who require quick visualization of functions.

💡3D Graphing

3D graphing is the ability to visualize and plot three-dimensional mathematical functions. The Casio fx-CG50 has a built-in 3D graphing app, which is a significant feature not present in the TI-84 Plus CE, allowing users to graph complex 3D shapes and functions.

💡Programming Interface

The programming interface of a calculator refers to the tools and environment provided for users to create their own programs. Both calculators are said to have capable and comparable programming interfaces, allowing for customization and advanced calculations beyond the built-in functions.

Highlights

Comparison of the TI-84 Plus CE and Casio fx-CG50 graphing calculators.

Both calculators have similar hardware with a difference in thickness due to the power source.

TI-84 Plus CE is slimmer with a built-in rechargeable battery, while Casio uses AAA batteries.

Casio's use of AAA batteries offers longer usage time but requires replacement when depleted.

Casio calculators can use rechargeable AAA batteries with a charging cord.

Both calculators feature high-resolution color screens with slightly different dimensions.

Casio has a fake carbon fiber pattern, while TI-84 Plus has plain matte plastic.

TI-84 Plus is available in various colors, including gold.

Neither calculator has a computer algebra system, limiting operations with letter variables.

Casio excels in providing exact answers, including simplified radical and fraction forms.

Casio allows toggling between decimal and exact forms for trigonometric functions.

Both calculators have a menu for advanced functions like derivatives and integrals.

Casio's menu system is criticized for using more abbreviations and smaller screen space.

Speed tests show Casio performing calculations significantly faster than TI-84 Plus CE.

Casio's graphing speed is notably faster, reducing wait times for function visualization.

Both calculators offer similar graphing features, including maximum, minimum, and intersect values.

Casio's 3D graphing feature is a notable advantage over the TI-84 Plus CE.

Casio provides a more detailed periodic table with extensive information on elements.

Casio fx-CG50 is a capable and cost-effective alternative to the widely used TI-84 Plus CE.